Longhorned Beetle - Hesperophanes pubescens

Frank,

This beetle was on the pump that I was using at a gas station. It must have been attracted to the lights at night, and was still there in the morning when I showed up. If you want the specimen, I still have it in the fridge. If not, then I'll let it go.

… tom murray, 29 August, 2009 - 10:29am

Thanks

Thank you. The Hesperophanes arrived in good shape. that is definitely the correct determination. Interesting beetle. Very bland, yet still with the distinctly elegant longhorn lines and proportions. I first collected this species at light in the 80's near Paw Paw,WV in a dry oak-hickory habitat (very different from Glen, NH - I know that area well after many Storyland visits with the kids). I wasn't able to identify the beetle until I got a copy of Yanega which described the species as rare. Thus I gave the beetle to Cornell Univ. They said probably not rare but uncommon and they had several specimens mostly from the Ohio River Valley region but also some specimens from Long Island. Over the years, the beetle became a regular visitor to my lights in WV and also at second location in just north of Baltimore, MD (mixed hardwoods dominated by tulip tree). I was surprised to see several recent bugguide records from Mass and now NH. Maybe has expanded its range and numbers last two decades?

… Frank Guarnieri, 3 September, 2009 - 7:14pm

thanks

I would love to have it. I'll email you my address.

… Frank Guarnieri, 29 August, 2009 - 2:02pm

Hesperophanes pubescens

I think this has to be Hesperophanes pubescens. Definitely uncommon. I have a small series in my collection from West Virginia and Maryland. All were collected at light. The ones from "down south" look a little different from this one, more robust and more yellowish, but I don't know of anything else it could be. I've never seen them in Maine (where I live now) despite years of UV and mercury vapor - lighting. I suspect NH might be a significant range extension?

… Frank Guarnieri, 29 August, 2009 - 6:59am